BOSWORTH MP David Tredinnick has backed Fenny Drayton residents in their fight against the siting of a composting site on their doorstep.

BOSWORTH MP David Tredinnick has backed Fenny Drayton residents in their fight against the siting of a composting site on their doorstep.

He has concerns about the impact on residents, roads and the environment from the proposed open plant in Fenn Lane

Mr Tredinnick says he has major doubts about the safety of such a plant.

The open nature of the site and its location near houses have led to concerns about the dangers of bioaerosols such as Aspergillus Fumi-gatus, which is a fungus that can cause serious respiratory damage, being released.

There is also the fear that such sites attract flies and vermin.

Road safety issues in Fenn Lane itself, along the A444 and at the Royal Red Gate junction of the A5 are also a worry.

Mr Tredinnick said: I am opposed to this composting plant being located on the site near Fenny Drayton, which is absolutely the wrong place for this sort of facility.

Other methods of composting such as the in vessel and anaerobic digestion processes are enclosed but as the name suggests the open windrow system requires an open-air facility.

The strong smell generated by the open windrow process and the potential release of harmful wind-borne spores are naturally issues of major concern to local residents.

There are safety concerns in having such a facility in close proximity to villages like Fenny Drayton, Atterton, Upton, Higham-on-the-Hill and the Mira complex yet these communities have not been properly consulted about this planning application.

I have written to formally object to this application and I have also contacted the Secretary of State to outline my concerns about allowing open windrow composting to be sited in close proximity to residential properties.